NFL notebook: Players get new teams as free agency begins

All those promises worth millions upon millions to free agents turned into paydays Wednesday when the NFL’s business year began.

Of course, teams needed to clear salary cap space or rejigger their ledgers to make it work, and they’ll still be doing so for months.

While the likes of Drew Brees, Malcolm Butler and Andrew Norwell cashed in big-time, having reached agreements in the past two days before everything became official, some value entered the marketplace.

Arizona released safety Tyrann Mathieu when it couldn’t rework his deal. On Tuesday, the Cardinals let running back Adrian Peterson go.

Baltimore cut receiver Jeremy Maclin. Detroit said goodbye to tight end Eric Ebron. Pittsburgh tore up a secondary that often was torn up by opposing quarterbacks, releasing Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden and William Gay.

But Carolina had more success with a veteran, completing a one-year deal with defensive end Julius Peppers.

The 38-year-old Peppers, who contemplated retirement after 17 pro seasons, remains with the Panthers for $5 million, with $2.5 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the team does not release financial terms of contracts.

“I am fired up to have him back,” Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said. “It was amazing to have him as part of what we are trying to build and I think he can help us get to the next level.”

Cleveland, meanwhile, did nothing more than listen to one of its greatest players, tackle Joe Thomas, announce his retirement. The Browns save his $10.3 million salary for 2018 and a $3 million bonus but lose their best player and leader in the expansion era (1999-present), a 10-time Pro Bowler.

“This was an extremely difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family,” Thomas said. “Playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.”

CARDINALS: Mathieu was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially began. By cutting him, Arizona will save close to $5 million in cap space.

Mathieu became a star in the Arizona secondary after being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft following a troubled college career at LSU. But he also has been plagued by injuries and only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games.

RAVENS: Baltimore freed up an estimated $5 million in salary cap space by releasing Maclin, who signed on as a free agent in June. But Maclin missed two games with a shoulder injury, two more with knee issues, and finished with only 40 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

49ERS: San Francisco agreed to a four-year contract with running back Jerick McKinnon and a five-year deal with center-guard Weston Richburg. McKinnon replaces departing starter Carlos Hyde, and Richburg could start anywhere in the interior line.

“We see Weston as one of the top young interior offensive linemen in the NFL,” GM John Lynch said. “His athleticism, intelligence and attitude are a perfect fit for our scheme. Jerick has proven to be an extremely versatile football player whose speed, elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability make him a very difficult matchup for defenses.”

TITANS: Tennessee kept right guard Josh Kline and defensive end David King with new contracts after making a splash in free agency by getting Butler.

BILLS: Buffalo restocked at quarterback by agreeing to a two-year deal with AJ McCarron.

The 27-year-old spent the past four seasons backing up Andy Dalton in Cincinnati after being selected by the Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.

McCarron’s signing came five days after Buffalo traded three-year starter Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland.

Buffalo also added defensive end Trent Murphy from Washington – a needed pass rusher, but one coming off a major injury.

DOLPHINS: Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh officially was released, when the trades to acquire defensive end Robert Quinn and send Jarvis Landry to the Browns were formalized.

Miami decided to keep right tackle Ja’Wuan James, which guarantees him $9.34 million in 2018.

Green’s addition adds intrigue to whether the Chargers will bring back 37-year-old tight end Antonio Gates, who hopes to extend his record-setting career for at least another season.

JETS: New York signed linebacker Avery Williamson to a three-year contract worth $22.5 million. Williamson spent his first four NFL seasons with Tennessee and led the Titans in tackles in two of those years.

The Jets also tendered wide receiver Quincy Enunwa at the second-round level, worth $2.9 million. Enunwa was emerging as a threat before missing last season with a bulging disk in his neck.

SEAHAWKS: Seattle reached an agreement with outside linebacker/defensive end Barkevious Mingo, a former first-round pick by Cleveland, on a two-year deal worth up to $10.1 million with $3.2 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.

VIKINGS: Minnesota will acquire quarterback Trevor Siemian in a trade the Broncos, the Star Tribune in Minnepolis reported. The Vikings are sending an undisclosed 2019 draft pick to Denver in exchange for Siemian and a 2018 late-round pick.

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